Junior mints (for snowmen caps) (Junior Mints and any otherTootsie Roll brand candies are made in a peanut and tree nut-freefacility)

Cake Mate brand colored sprinkles or "jimmies" for snowmenbuttons (please check labels; Cake Mate is available at mostsupermarkets and lists potential allergens if any exist. I usethese sprinkles for many recipes.)

Regular sized and mini Jet Puffed brand marshmallows

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Directions:

To bake the cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate and set aside untilit cools slightly. Mix flour and salt together in a small bowl; setaside. Stir baking soda into buttermilk in a small bowl ormeasuring cup and set aside.

Beat sugar and butter with electric mixer on medium speed untillight and fluffy. Beat in egg and melted chocolate until thoroughlycombined. Add flour mixture alternatively with buttermilk mixture,about 1/3 of each at a time ending with the flour. Mix well aftereach addition.

Spoon batter into prepared cupcake tins; I use an ice creamscoop. Bake for 18-20 minutes until cupcakes until toothpickinserted in the center comes out clean. Don't over bake-cupcakeswill be dry. Remove from pans and set on wire racks to coolcompletely.

To make the frosting:

In large bowl with mixer at medium speed, beat butter,confectioner's sugar and 3 tablespoons milk and vanilla untilsmooth and blended.

Beat in additional milk until spreading consistency. Increasespeed to medium high and beat until frosting is light and fluffy.Makes slightly more than 2 cups.

To assemble snowmen for cupcake toppers:

Place mini marshmallow on top of regular-sized marshmallow bysecuring with toothpick. This creates the snowman "body." For each"arm" place two mini marshmallows on toothpick and place on side oflarge marshmallow "body."

Taking a small amount of frosting, secure Junior Mint tosnowman "head" to make a cap. If you'd like to create "eyes" orsnowman "buttons," use toothpick to make tiny holes inmarshmallows; insert sprinkles into the holes.

If you don't want to use toothpicks, simply secure minimarshmallows to regular-sized marshmallows with a tiny bit offrosting and add the Junior Mint "cap." Just as cute!